Another Rock and Roll Christmas [PLAYLIST]

Photo by Kevin Dooley

That Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra generally continue to define and dominate the holiday sound should come as no surprise to anyone with a set of ears, least of all, pointy, elfish ones. More so than their contemporaries or latter day hopefuls, most seem to agree that the two, with their warm, rich, and full voices audibly embody the season’s supposed spirit. And yet, though their well worn tracks are timeless and far from fading in the snow, it can be nice to switch things up, to soundtrack the season with something a little different.

Submitted for your approval, all ye faithful readers, I offer “Another Rock and Roll Christmas,” a somewhat alternative twist on what typically plays around the tree. Regardless of the playlist’s potentially controversial title, all but obligatory and completely sensible given the titles of the tracks themselves, “Another Rock and Roll Christmas” consists of a collection of the worthwhile and yet mostly overlooked, a collection bound to reignite the holiday spirit in peoples of all cultures and creeds. There are newer tracks like Phoenix’s recent and brilliant “Alone On Christmas Day,” an obscure Beach Boys cover featuring Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Paul Shaffer of Letterman fame that somehow successfully serves as an uplifting song for the lonely. But the occasional classic makes the list too, like the irresistible “Happy Xmas (War Is Over),” for instance, by John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band. Regardless of where you are or what you believe in this holiday season, may all of your time be merry and bright and may this playlist, my gift to you this year, inspire a willingness to temporarily let cynical guards down as you slip into the delightfully cheesy spirit of the season.

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No Smoking Media is a regularly updated and hand curated feed of music releases, free from hierarchical judgment and included regardless of press coverage. Our priority is for our readers to discover good, creative music that they might not otherwise hear, and for artists we admire to gain a wider audience and be recognized for their musical excellence.